The cross-harbor tunnel and Maspeth and Pilgrim rail yards are essential facilities for coping with 21st Century transportation and economic challenges, according to "Investing in Mobility," a new report by Environmental Defense and the "East of Hudson Rail Freight Operations Task Force."

The report contains an extensive overview of the region’s freight system and market for goods movement, including summarized findings of the NYC EDC’s studies of cross-harbor freight tunnel options and a recent NY Metropolitan Transportation Council survey of freight facilities and needs.

Its best contributions to regional debates over transportation projects and priorities is its survey of various state of the art operating techniques that could enhance rail freight operations using existing infrastructure, and maximize the impact of new capacity the region decides to build. These include new train engine and brake technology, less relaxed train dispatching practices and more efficient intermodal operations. The report looks specifically at modern European and Canadian operations that could be adapted to truck-clogged greater New York. Likewise, modern float-bridge systems like those in use on Canada’s Pacific coast and in the Baltic Sea could bring rail cars across New York Harbor pending construction of a rail tunnel much more efficiently than the systems now in use here.

The freight mode split east of the Hudson in 2025, projected by the NYC EDC. The figures assume no major investments in the freight system. The truck share increases from 79.4% today, with overall freight tonnage increasing 70%.

Project-specific recommendations in the report include:

-Development of more yard space along the wide Amtrak right of way in the Bronx

-A modern float-barge system between Jersey City and Brooklyn, while rail tunnel construction is pending

-Improving yards in Connecticut — specifically at Cedar Hill yard near New Haven, to better integrate southern New England into an upgraded east-of-Hudson rail network.

-Adopting more sophisticated passenger-freight track-sharing, as practiced in parts of Europe, and shared access by different private RR’s to publicly-owned tracks.

-Increasing train weight restrictions by commuter railroads, where infrastructure permits it (as along the LIRR) and upgrading facilities like the Hell Gate Bridge, where it does not.

-Instituting or intensifying congestion pricing at Hudson crossings to further level the freight market for rail and to help preserve mobility benefits of reduced trucking.

The report is available on-line at:

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